Mohammed Salim Sheikh, 36, was sentenced to life imprisonment; Abdul Miya Yasin Qadri, 45, received a 10-year term and Altaf Hussain Malek, 33, five years for the September 24, 2002, attack on the temple six months after the post-Godhra riots.

The families of the accused milled outside as the verdict was pronounced by judge Sonia Gokani inside Sabarmati Central Jail.

The judge said: The killing of innocent devotees at Akshardham falls in the category of the rarest of rare cases.

As the court delivered the judgment, the accused remained calm. Allah jo karta hai, thik karta hai (whatever Allah does is right), public prosecutor Sudhir Brahmabhatt quoted them as saying.